There are obviously no really quick or really easy fixes to the pavement deal, otherwise they would have been implemented by now.

I can't help but think though, that the simplest thing to do is to schedule more pavement races. Make it viable to own one of those damn things. I understand that costs are out of control, but those could be buffered a bit if USAC had a half-and-half schedule. Would I personally like that? Not really, I'm a dirt guy. But it sure would make more sense for the car owners out there. Run Anderson a bunch. Run Salem and Winchester more. Run IRP again, please. There are many, many asphalt tracks out there. To see the pavement go by the wayside would be a true shame. It wasn't that long ago that the highbanks were the ticket to Indy.

Just my opinion of a Band-Aid fix. Don't get me started on costs, daddy's money or a regional series that calls itself a national one.

[openwheelKT]

Originally Posted by PJ Wright So as each division declines, the "business plan" is to drop it??? Gee things aren't going real well at work right now so I think I'll quit. My marriage is struggling a bit so we'll get a divorce. Our Country has some real problems so let's move to Mozambique. Some business plan. Some business man. But hey, they've got a really cool hip website.

That was my first thought when I started reading this. Don't try and change anything....just quit? Having to be good at dirt and pavement is what has always set USAC apart IMO. I'm a dirt guy first, but I like mixing the pavement in too. I'd sure hate to see that go away. There are many reasons the car count is down, but I haven't seen too many changes in the last few years to TRY and help it. I just don't see dropping it without trying some new things as a good move.

[metal bender]

When usac started out they had a better deal than aaa over the years there became to many rules and the wrong people became in power!!! Money talks and bull **** walks if you want racing to get better usac needs to go

[Sprint63122]

Originally Posted by spankytoo The problem that I see with USUC is that you and I do not have a voice. We can not complain about anything without being labeled a trouble maker. The "Good Ol Boys" club that runs it knows that if you don't like it you can leave. WELL WE HAVE LEFT!!! Now the number of people that have left has finally added up to a point that USAC has noticed. All of the official positons at USAC are appointed by the "Insiders". The club needs to have the top three positons in each series or region voted on by members of the same series or regions. That way if they want to keep their job they will listen.

This is just another example what is wrong in america today, the people running most of these companies could not find there azz from a hole in the ground even with a dot to dot map.

Tire bill 1200.00 or more,entree fee+pit pass100.00 or more,travel expense?testing?pay driver 40%to 50% of
winnings. so the Huffmans ran 2nd at Kalamazoo,and that paid 2000.00 after paying the driver they still lost money.


tire bill,testing,and the weak payout is killing pavement racing,and USAC entree fees dont help.

[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by d.o. we all know that it's changed. Remember when you got a ronnie ward or a king car with your buddies. Somebody knew how to build a chevy and you and your friends had some mechanic's to bolt, paint or bring the beer. One car, open wheel trailer, van, pickup, station wagon and a tool box, cooler and ciggs. Remember those days? You earned your way into the feature, no lcq's or prov's. End of the day you set on the trailer and car drinking beer with everybody talking about the days race. Maybe even herk and prince would be looking for a beer from watson. Remember those days? You were proud to be a usac racer. You built your **** and raced it. Think about terre haute in the day time without lights, new bremen under the tree and frank dickie, great days. Watch any dick wallen and look at the crowds everywhere. Today you order a car from a builder go to bernie & mark's walmart of race parts and bolt it all together. Callup a horsepower shop and get a motor. Daddy pays somebody to work on his young kids car out of the semi rig. Yes there are a few who stilldo the down home with the family deal like the fox boys. So how does todays racing and tracks get turned around ???? Lots of ideas can only help. But usac, hoss/avss, open, how do you organise it? We can't complain about the racing we have. Most track have great local racing, all near indy. Hey that's great.

also you had fun and a lot of help! Car builders like watson king wally stapp edmunds shores leffler ward mitchell osborn travis maxwell stanton allen cook j&j dowker and you race the same car on dirt and pavement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tire Cost.$$$$ It will kill racing and the tire companies are not going to help.

[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by metal bender when usac started out they had a better deal than aaa over the years there became to many rules and the wrong people became in power!!! Money talks and bull **** walks if you want racing to get better usac needs to go

you had duane carter sr. Running usac and it was going foward but tom binford was a banker and did not like the way he run it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then you had business people run it down hill look at dick kings back ground in racing???????????? Then john caples?????????? Nice guy good talker!!!!! Now look at the leadership!

[Kevin Miller]

Normally I like to step in and give you guys "the facts" prior to building speculation and running wild with your thoughts. This time, I wanted to get some of your thoughts out prior to speaking out, as I am truly interested in your opinions.

Is there a problem with the pavement side of our National Sprint Car series. Hell yes. The economics don't work for the teams, or promoters. Yes we need increased purses. Yes we need a grander slate of races. However, when the fans don't support the economics of the sport, then it's awfully difficult to make promoters and teams happy and have healthy car counts and prosperous track owners.

This is not a new problem. Talk to car owners. They're have not been happy with pavement sprint car economics for a while. The economy has taken things to a new level. And as far as USAC fee's...I doubt a $35 or $40 entry fee is keeping away a bunch of cars.

So, as a business leader, I ask a few questions. Play "what if" with some of our drivers and owners. Seek a direction for the future. That's what we do at USAC now...take time, analyze the situation, develop alternatives, discuss with industry leaders, and only then implement a plan we best feel supports a successful solution.

Such was the case with the difficult decision my team had coming on board in December 2007. What to do with the Silver Crown series, or more directly the "new car". We made a difficult decision to bring back the "traditional" car for pavement...perhaps a popular one for some here on IOW but not without it's own set of conflict (teams, tracks, etc). We now see car counts increasing and the discussion of races increasing for 2010.

So as we look to the future of USAC, we ask questions. We play "what if's". Hell, we talk about next generation midget engine platforms, green racing initiatives with our new government administration, linkage with Indy, and yes, pavement sprint cars. Seeing that we have a few of these races over the next two weeks, we have been kicking around thoughts while waiting out the rain during the last week or so.

So please do not take open discussion with drivers, owners, industry leaders, etc as "oh hell, guess what USUC is doing now!"

We will continue to brainstorm many ideas, some that are pretty wild. Let me start one...what do you guys think of wings? Now that is funny!

USAC is currently planning open Town Hall meetings with our teams and sponsors this summer to discuss many initiatives. I am confident that the response we get will help establish the direction we take forward.

As I have always stated here, please feel free to email me directly at Kevin@usacracing.com. I would love to hear more insight on the direction to make a successful USAC. I do have a few thoughts myself

[SUPERDUKE]

Originally Posted by wolmidget tire cost.$$$$ it will kill racing and the tire companies are not going to help.

yes one company giving money to usac to be there!!!!!!!!!! Diirt or pavement to many soft tires burning them up in time trials then one in the heat and one or two in the feature!!!!!!!!!!!

---------- Post added at 05:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by kevin miller normally i like to step in and give you guys "the facts" prior to building speculation and running wild with your thoughts. This time, i wanted to get some of your thoughts out prior to speaking out, as i am truly interested in your opinions. Is there a problem with the pavement side of our national sprint car series. Hell yes. The economics don't work for the teams, or promoters. Yes we need increased purses. Yes we need a grander slate of races. However, when the fans don't support the economics of the sport, then it's awfully difficult to make promoters and teams happy and have healthy car counts and prosperous track owners. This is not a new problem. Talk to car owners. They're have not been happy with pavement sprint car economics for a while. The economy has taken things to a new level. And as far as usac fee's...i doubt a $35 or $40 entry fee is keeping away a bunch of cars. So, as a business leader, i ask a few questions. Play "what if" with some of our drivers and owners. Seek a direction for the future. That's what we do at usac now...take time, analyze the situation, develop alternatives, discuss with industry leaders, and only then implement a plan we best feel supports a successful solution. Such was the case with the difficult decision my team had coming on board in december 2007. What to do with the silver crown series, or more directly the "new car". We made a difficult decision to bring back the "traditional" car for pavement...perhaps a popular one for some here on iow but not without it's own set of conflict (teams, tracks, etc). We now see car counts increasing and the discussion of races increasing for 2010. So as we look to the future of usac, we ask questions. We play "what if's". Hell, we talk about next generation midget engine platforms, green racing initiatives with our new government administration, linkage with indy, and yes, pavement sprint cars. Seeing that we have a few of these races over the next two weeks, we have been kicking around thoughts while waiting out the rain during the last week or so. So please do not take open discussion with drivers, owners, industry leaders, etc as "oh hell, guess what usuc is doing now!" we will continue to brainstorm many ideas, some that are pretty wild. Let me start one...what do you guys think of wings? Now that is funny! Usac is currently planning open town hall meetings with our teams and sponsors this summer to discuss many initiatives. I am confident that the response we get will help establish the direction we take forward. As i have always stated here, please feel free to email me directly at kevin@usacracing.com. I would love to hear more insight on the direction to make a successful usac. I do have a few thoughts myself

please read the first post!!!!!!!! Then tell us what you think?????????????

---------- Post added at 05:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by wolmidget tire cost.$$$$ it will kill racing and the tire companies are not going to help.

dirt and pavement tires!!!!!!!!!!!!

---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 PM ----------

Originally Posted by fisher79 there are obviously no really quick or really easy fixes to the pavement deal, otherwise they would have been implemented by now. I can't help but think though, that the simplest thing to do is to schedule more pavement races. Make it viable to own one of those damn things. I understand that costs are out of control, but those could be buffered a bit if usac had a half-and-half schedule. Would i personally like that? Not really, i'm a dirt guy. But it sure would make more sense for the car owners out there. Run anderson a bunch. Run salem and winchester more. Run irp again, please. There are many, many asphalt tracks out there. To see the pavement go by the wayside would be a true shame. It wasn't that long ago that the highbanks were the ticket to indy. Just my opinion of a band-aid fix. Don't get me started on costs, daddy's money or a regional series that calls itself a national one.

who would want to promote a race with 12 cars? No cars no people= loser!!!!!!!!